Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships

News about same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Mar. 31, 2015

Editorial maintains that it is is clear Indiana's religious-freedom law has underlying purpose of discriminating against gay couples who wish to be married; disputes notion that free exercise of religion is under assault in Indiana or anywhere else in country; argues that law uses religion as cover for discrimination. MORE

Mar. 31, 2015

David Brooks Op-Ed column expresses concern that critics of Indiana law, which is remarkably similar to federal 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, seem to be suggesting that there is no valid tension between religious pluralism and equality; cautions that gay rights movement is in position to retain moral high ground by using steady pressure and attitude of tolerance instead of coercion from an absolutist position. MORE

Mar. 27, 2015

Bob Page, whose company Replacements Ltd was only one in North Carolina in 2012 to publicly oppose constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, marries his longtime partner after amendment was struck down in 2014. MORE

Mar. 27, 2015

College Basketball Notebook; Indiana's new law allowing businesses to refuse service to same-sex couples poses problem for NCAA, which must now decide whether to hold events in Indianapolis, city scheduled to host final four round of men's basketball tournament. MORE

Mar. 18, 2015

Members of Presbyterian Church (USA) vote to change church's definition of marriage to allow same-sex unions, joining several other large denominations in United States who have moved to permit same-sex marriages. MORE

Mar. 17, 2015

United States District Court Judge Callie V S Granade refuses to stay her order to Alabama probate Judge Don Davis that he must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. MORE

Mar. 7, 2015

Former Georgia Atty Gen Michael J Bowers, who defended state's anti-sodomy law in 1980s, is now lobbying on behalf of gay rights group Georgia Equality; he is fighting proposed legislation that he says would be used to justify discrimination; acknowledges that his opinions on gay rights have changed over the years. MORE

Mar. 7, 2015

Lawyers for National Center for Lesbian Rights and other groups ask Federal Judge Callie V S Granade to force probate judges in Alabama to again issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, three days after Alabama Supreme Court ordered them to stop. MORE

Mar. 6, 2015

Federal appeals court blocks Federal Judge Joseph Bataillon's ruling that Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional; ban will remain in place until appeal case is decided. MORE

Mar. 6, 2015

State legislatures across country are preparing bills that would make it easier for businesses and individuals to opt out of serving gay couples on religious grounds; push comes as conservative states brace for Supreme Court decision that could establish nationwide right to same-sex marriage. MORE

Mar. 5, 2015

All 48 of Alabama's county probate offices stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples following after state Supreme Court orders probate judges to obey existing state ban on same-sex marriage. MORE

Mar. 4, 2015

Alabama Supreme Court orders probate judges to cease issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, in defiance of federal ruling that ban on such unions violates United States Constitution. MORE

Mar. 3, 2015

Feb. 25, 2015

Frank Bruni Op-Ed column digs into survey data compiled by Public Religion Research Institute about way 50,000 Americans feel about issues of gay marriage, abortion and immigration; notes that data shows how white evangelical Protestants have disproportionate sway over Republican Party on these issues. MORE

Feb. 22, 2015

Some Navajo leaders are considering repealing 2005 tribal law prohibiting same-sex marriage, noting that if Supreme Court does rule in favor of legalization later this year, it will not apply to Navajo's sovereign nation; move is opposed by both Navajo traditionalists and other tribal citizens who feel that issues like drug abuse and depression are more of a priority. MORE

Feb. 21, 2015

Texas Atty Gen Ken Paxton calls on State Supreme Court to revoke marriage license issued to two women, citing decade-old state ban on same-sex marriage. MORE

Feb. 15, 2015

Frank Bruni Op-Ed column warns of danger in having religion and government so closely linked in the United States, particularly among Republican politicians; notes that conflating politics and religion is how theocracies and brutal extremists are created, and points to how Republican opposition to gay marriage in Alabama has been framed as religious rather than civic issue. MORE

Feb. 14, 2015

Keith Ingram and Albert Pigg, who live in Dothan, Ala, were first gay couple to be denied marriage license by Houston County Probate Court Judge Patrick H Davenport after conflicting rulings issued by federal and state judges; Ingram and Pigg describe town as having culture that is still resistant to homosexual couples, yet is accepting of them in some pockets; couple continues to hope that probate judge will eventually grant license. MORE

Feb. 14, 2015

Gay rights group Freedom to Marry reports that at least 50 of 67 counties in Alabama will be issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples; state's probate judges are responding to what one called 'the inevitable' after Federal Judge Callie V S Granade, who ruled in January that Alabama's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional, specifically ordered Mobile County Probate Court Judge Don Davis to comply. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

Shibuya Ward district in central Tokyo plans to recognize same-sex couples, giving them same legal rights as married opposite-sex couples; becomes first local government in Japan to do so at a time when issue of gay marriage is stirring in many countries. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

Nicolas Kristof Op-Ed column contends lesson from murders of three Muslims in North Carolina and conflicts over same-sex marriage in Alabama is the importance of fighting bigotry and opposing intolerance; points out perils in 'otherizing' people of different faiths, races or sexuality. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Alabama, though not unique among conservative states in opposing same-sex marriage, is the only state where probate judges who would issue such licenses were instructed to disregard federal court order that defies popular majority; such defiant, brazen and often hopeless campaigns are practically hard-wired into state's makeup. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Alabama probate judges weighing whether they should grant marriage licenses to gay couples are caught between federal and state rulings on issue, not to mention their own feelings toward it; federal hearing has been scheduled to resolve matter. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Op-Ed article by Jean Mills and Carol Eichelberger describes how decision by judge in their county of Tuscaloosa, Ala, to go along with State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy S Moore's order not to issue same-sex marriage licenses has made them decide to pursue one; notes that while they have never been activists, despite living as lesbian couple in state where many object to their relationship, ruling has forced them to take a stand. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

Court officials in some of Alabama's largest cities begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples but most of state's judges refuse to do so; in wake of Federal Judge Callie V S Granade's rulings legalizing same-sex marriage, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy S Moore orders judges not to issue same-sex marriage licenses, escalating legal battle; adding to mix, United States Supreme Court says it will not block Granade's rulings. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

The Upshot; polls suggesting that growing majority of Americans support same-sex marriage can obscure fact that large swaths of United States, as in Alabama, contain populations who are staunchly opposed to such marriages. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

Alabama Chief Justice Roy S Moore's order prohibiting state judges from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples has thrown state's court system in turmoil, and places him once again in national spotlight; devout-Baptist Moore last drew attention in 2003, when he defied federal court order to remove Ten Commandments monument from Alabama Judicial System building. MORE

Feb. 9, 2015

Chief Justice Roy S Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court blocks state's probate justices from issuing gay marriage licenses after federal court strikes down state's ban on gay marriage; order amounts to bold defiance of federal judiciary, and sets up what is likely to be legal turmoil and debate over state's rights. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Michigan will recognize more than 300 same-sex marriages performed during a brief period when they were allowed in 2014. MORE

Feb. 1, 2015

Emily Bazelon First column examines way Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts seems to have kept his own legacy and standing of court in mind during his tenure, and how that may affect upcoming ruling on same-sex marriage; suggests Roberts has vested interest in having court appear above partisanship, as it allows him to more easily accomplish long-term goal of moving court in more conservative direction. MORE

Feb. 1, 2015

Gray Matter column by Prof Kurt Gray and graduate student Chelsea Schein describes their research, published in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, on ways different ideological groups view victims in acts considered by them to be immoral; notes that research offers insight into ideas such as 'victimless crimes,' which are psychologically rare, and into why some conservatives view same-sex marriage as socially harmful. MORE

Jan. 31, 2015

Mark Oppenheimer Beliefs column observes that most rabbis are willing to perform same-sex marriages, but not interfaith marriages. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

Republican legislators in several states are proposing bills that would prevent issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, even as federal courts declare same-sex marriage bans to be unconstitutional; introduction of state bills, which are unlikely to pass, hint at larger battle that may continue regardless of whether Supreme Court eventually decides that same-sex marriage should be legal nationwide. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

Jan. 28, 2015

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaders, in effort to find middle ground, denounce discrimination against gays, while calling to protect rights of people whose religious beliefs oppose homosexuality and same-sex marriage; announcement comes as Utah is considering nondiscrimination law. MORE

Jan. 27, 2015

Jan. 25, 2015

Case of lesbian couple April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, who have filed federal lawsuit challenging Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage, has become central to Supreme Court's anticipated decision on whether all 50 states must allow gays and lesbians to marry. MORE

Jan. 24, 2015

Ron Lieber Your Money column highlights circumstances of financial planner Brian Thompson and his husband Benjamin Rogers in assessing degree to which legalized same-sex marriage will have financial implications; notes that if Supreme Court strikes down bans on gay marriage issued by states, many gay couples will find themselves tackling financial questions they have not thought about. MORE

Jan. 19, 2015

Many Republicans feel that although Supreme Court will likely decide in favor of same-sex marriage, ruling will give them some political relief by making their unpopular opinions on matter moot; although issue is unlikely to go away completely, it will not be major point of debate in 2016 presidential primaries. MORE

Jan. 18, 2015

News Analysis; Supreme Court makes unusual move in agreeing to hear four same-sex marriage cases by rephrasing questions in petitions; some see housekeeping in court's language, but others sense subtle shift of emphasis, away from rights of people to get married and toward due process and equal protection obligations that 14th Amendment imposes on states. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

Supreme Court agrees to hear cases brought by 15 same-sex couples in four states challenging states' bans on same-sex marriages; court is positioned to fully address question of whether same-sex marriage is fundamental right before its term ends in June, further emphasizing how pace of change on issue nationwide is unparalleled in history of United States. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

Editorial urges Supreme Court, which is for second time considering constitutionality of same-sex marriage, to legalize such marriages for good; contends that no new, plausible arguments in favor of either side of debate have emerged for years; holds that majority of Americans favor same-sex marriage, and that court should take opportunity to end exclusion and inequality of gays and lesbians in United States. MORE

{"type":"article","show_header_text":false,"header":"Articles About Same-Sex Marriage","query":"(des=\"Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships\" or (des=\"MARRIAGES\" and des=\"HOMOSEXUALITY\") or (des=\"HOMOSEXUALITY\" and (hdl=\"union\" or hdl=\"unions\" or hdl=\"union\" or hdl=\"wed\" or hdl=\"weds\" or hdl=\"marriage\" or hdl=\"marriages\" or hdl=\"marry\" or body=\"civil union\" or body=\"civil unions\" or body=\"domestic partnership\" or body=\"domestic partnerships\" or hdl=\"domestic partnership\" or hdl=\"domestic partnerships\")) or ((hdl=\"same sex marriage\" or hdl=\"same sex marriages\" or hdl=\"domestic partnership\" or hdl=\"domestic partnerships\") or ((hdl=\"gays\" or hdl=\"same sex\" or hdl=\"homosexual\" or hdl=\"homosexuals\") and (hdl=\"union\" or hdl=\"unions\" or hdl=\"wed\" or hdl=\"marriage\" or hdl=\"marriages\" or hdl=\"marry\" or hdl=\"domestic partnership\" or hdl=\"domestic partnerships\")))) and tom!=\"Caption\" and tom!=\"Correction\" and tom!=\"List\" and tom!=\"Paid Death Notice\" and dsk!=\"Society\"","search_query":"(subject:\"Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships\" OR (subject:\"MARRIAGES\" AND subject:\"HOMOSEXUALITY\") OR (subject:\"HOMOSEXUALITY\" AND (headline:\"union\" OR headline:\"unions\" OR headline:\"union\" OR headline:\"wed\" OR headline:\"weds\" OR headline:\"marriage\" OR headline:\"marriages\" OR headline:\"marry\" OR body:\"civil union\" OR body:\"civil unions\" OR body:\"domestic partnership\" OR body:\"domestic partnerships\" OR headline:\"domestic partnership\" OR headline:\"domestic partnerships\")) OR ((headline:\"same sex marriage\" OR headline:\"same sex marriages\" OR headline:\"domestic partnership\" OR headline:\"domestic partnerships\") OR ((headline:\"gays\" OR headline:\"same sex\" OR headline:\"homosexual\" OR headline:\"homosexuals\") AND (headline:\"union\" OR headline:\"unions\" OR headline:\"wed\" OR headline:\"marriage\" OR headline:\"marriages\" OR headline:\"marry\" OR headline:\"domestic partnership\" OR headline:\"domestic partnerships\")))) AND -type_of_material:\"Caption\" AND -type_of_material:\"Correction\" AND -type_of_material:\"List\" AND -type_of_material:\"Paid Death Notice\" AND -news_desk:\"Society\"","num_search_articles":"15","show_summary":true,"show_byline":true,"show_pub_date":true,"hide_thumbnails":false,"show_kicker":false,"show_title":false,"show_related_topics":true,"show_rad_links":true,"show_subtopics":true,"exclude_topics":"MARRIAGES;HOMOSEXUALITY","more_on_header":"MORE ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND:","alternate_index_subidx":"","show_thumbnails":true}

March 31, 2015, Tuesday

Oklahoma's conservative lawmakers, angered at being ordered by U.S. courts to allow gay marriage in the state, have come up with a new, religious tactic to block same-sex weddings by mandating that clergy conduct almost all ceremonies.

March 18, 2015, Wednesday

The U.S. Presbyterian Church on Tuesday approved a change in the wording of its constitution to include same-sex marriage, a move which threatens to further splinter one of the largest U.S. mainline Protestant denominations.

The Supreme Court appeared ready on Wednesday to strike down a central part of a federal law that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. It was the second day of intense arguments over the volatile issue of same-sex marriage.